Iron Clad 883
Throwing a leg over the 2010 Harley-Davidson 883 Iron is one of the easiest things you will ever do, as its seat height is a mere 25.3 inches off the ground. I can say that the usual comments from Harley owners that an 883 needs to be bumped up to a 1200 do not apply to this version of Sportster–the Iron has plenty of get-up-and-go flat torque delivery and still has considerable pull when cruising in the 50 mph range.
That said the 883 Iron comes with a solo seat for a reason–that torque would most likely be overwhelmed with another body on board. The Iron Sporty’s 5-speed transmission is well spaced. Fifth gear is a much-appreciated overdrive that I now miss when I am riding my own daily steed.
Looks-wise, the blacked out 883 Iron Evolution engine and matte black finish on the tank and fenders got rave reviews from everyone I encountered in my journeys. Many a comment could be heard that there was love felt for the nostalgic chopped rear fender as well as the front fork rubber gaiters. But, rest assured, the old-school elements are purely cosmetic. The machine runs like a state-of-the-art Harley-Davidson should–sturdy and sure of itself.
On some of my longer jaunts I had the fear that I might run out of gas as I did when testing the XR1200 Sporty. However I was able to squeeze out just around 50 mpg from the 883 Iron so my fear was for naught with a 3.3-gallon tank. However, once the warning light appears on the multifunction speedometer, you had better get some go juice asap. There is less than a gallon available once that baby lights up so keep that in mind.
The Harley-Davidson 883 Iron’s riding position was quite comfortable, but there is a lack of cornering clearance. If you get to leaned-over in a corner on the Iron, the scraping sounds you’ll hear are not comforting at all and they happen very quickly. So, just take it easy and enjoy the cruise. If you do that, this motorcycle is sure to please.
What’s not so pleasing is the suspension on the 883 Iron–at least not when you are at speed and encounter a good lip, bump or pothole. You will receive a jarring hit if and, when that happens, it is less than confidence inspiring to say the least. But this bike is quite nimble, so maneuvering around some obstacles is definitely an option. When riding around town at moderate speeds, the suspension does a reasonable job of soaking up bumps. I do totally love the convenience of Harley’s self-canceling turn signals. They work wonderfully and leave the rider with one less thing to worry about while in transit.
Another pleasing aspect of the 2010 Harley-Davidson 883 Iron is the price. Overall, if you want to look quite cool and even dare I say menacing for not a whole lot of money, you can join the H-D club for much less than you might expect. And if those 1200 owners give you any flack when you roll up on your blacked-out beast, just smile and rev the 883’s throaty engine to drown them out.